ELEN0446-1 : Physics of electrical insulating materials

Study Programmes 2016-2017

ELEN0446-1

Physics of electrical insulating materials

Duration :

15h Th, 15h Labo.

Number of credits :

Master in physical engineering (120 ECTS)		3

Lecturer :

Philippe Vanderbemden

Language(s) of instruction :

English language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents :

Fundamental mechanisms in dielectrics and physical processes of polarisation. Electronic vs. ionic conduction. Physical properties of solid insulators: interfacial polarisation, deviations from Ohm's law, intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of dielectric breakdown. Physical properties of insulating gases and introduction to discharge regimes. Townsend coefficients and Paschen law. Main concepts used in static electricity. Physical phenomena involved in partial discharges. Solid insulators used in electrical engineering applications. Experimental methods for characterization of electrical properties of insulators. Identification of the main sources of errors. Metrologic methods for characterization of partial discharges.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit :

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
* demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the main electrical properties of solid insulators and explain their dependence with applied voltage and frequency;
* understand how fundamental theories can be applied to the analysis of their physical properties; * understand the fundamental mechanisms leading to dielectric breakdown and how they can be probed experimentally;
* understand the important concepts involved in static electricity;
* understand how extrinsic effects (electrodes, geometry, parasitic inductances and capacitances) can affect the results of electrical measurement on insulators;
* demonstrate practical skills as well as the ability to carry out successful measurements of low-level currents;
* show what are important electrical properties of insulators in high voltage engineering applications.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

A general physics course + ELEN0004 Semiconductor devices

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Practical courses involve laboratory experiments

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Face-to-face